Baltimore County Arrest Records

Baltimore County arrest records are official documents that detail the circumstances of the arrest of individuals by law enforcement within Baltimore County, Maryland. In the United States (including Maryland and its counties), law enforcement will take an individual into custody if there is evidence that they committed or may commit crimes. Baltimore County houses detainees at the Baltimore County Detention Center (BCDC) and state-run prisons within the county. Several law enforcement agencies generate arrest records in Baltimore County. These include

• Baltimore County Police Department
• Baltimore County Sheriff's Office
• Maryland State Police
• Federal law enforcement agencies such as:
  • The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  • The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
  • The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
• Municipal police departments.

If an arrest record provides preliminary information at the early stages of trial cases in Baltimore County, it will become part of Baltimore County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Baltimore County?

Yes, Baltimore County arrest information is generally considered public. Per Title 4 of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, unless the law stipulates otherwise, custodians of government records must allow the public to view or copy records at any reasonable time. However, Maryland laws exempt public access to some Baltimore County arrest records. In Baltimore County, sealed, expunged, and juvenile arrest records are not accessible to the public.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Typically, an arrest record contains the personal information of the arrestee and the consequences surrounding an arrest. Baltimore County arrest records information includes

• Name, date of birth, gender, and race of the owner of the record
• Time, date, and location of arrest
• Charges against the arrestee
• List of items confiscated by law enforcement at the time of arrest
• Name of the arresting agency
• Fingerprints, mugshots, and case number
• Bail and Bond information
• Date of initial court appearance (if the arrest leads to a court case).

Baltimore County Crime Rate

Data from the Baltimore County Police NIBR Dashboard shows that larceny-theft is the most recurring crime in Baltimore County. In the first quarter of 2024, the NIBR program recorded 3,542 larceny-theft cases in Baltimore County. This figure is over 900 cases more than the aggravated assault incidents (the next closest). Larceny-theft crimes accounted for 38.76% of crimes committed in Baltimore County in 2023. For 2021, 2022, and 2023, there were 11,995, 13,880, and 16,404 larceny-theft crimes in Baltimore County. These figures account for 39.43%, 32.82%, and 35.48% of total crimes for respective years.

Baltimore County Arrest Statistics

In 2022, according to FBI crime statistics, there were over 18,500 arrests in Baltimore County. This figure is a significant increase in the number of arrests in 2021. 2022 capped off the rising trend in Baltimore County arrests. In 2021, law enforcement agencies in Baltimore County reported over 15,600 arrests to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).

Young adults between the ages of 20 and 29 make up a large part of Baltimore County arrestees. In 2022, individuals within this age bracket accounted for 33.5% of all persons law enforcement in Baltimore County took into custody. Also, 35.11% of Baltimore County arrestees in 2021 fall within this age bracket.

The table below outlines Baltimore County crime statistics from 2018 to 2022.

Baltimore County Arrest Statistics 2018 to 2022

Data Source: FBI (UCR).

Find Baltimore County Arrest Records

Obtaining Baltimore County arrest records may be free or involve fee payments. There are broad choices available for persons seeking Baltimore County arrest. Persons seeking to obtain Baltimore County arrest records can:

• Visit the Maryland Courts website:
  • Scroll down and click the link to the Judiciary Case Search Page
  • Agree to the terms and conditions to access Maryland's My Case Search Portal
  • Use case number to access the criminal records of individuals convicted by Baltimore County courts
  • View Baltimore County arrest records through criminal records (arrest records are part of criminal records)
• Log in to the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) Offender Search Portal and access Baltimore County arrest records through sex Offenders records. Also, requesters can log in to the DPSCS Incarcerated Individuals Locator, and obtain Baltimore County arrest records through Baltimore County inmate records
• Visit the Baltimore County Police Department, or any law enforcement agency and make a Maryland Public Information Act request for access to Baltimore County arrest records in their custody.

Also, Baltimore County arrest records may be available through public records request at the Baltimore County Circuit Court Clerk's Office located at 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204.

Free Arrest Record Search in Baltimore County

There are several options to get Baltimore County arrest records for free. To obtain Baltimore County arrest records without incurring costs:

• Log in to the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Incarcerated Individuals Locator, use the name of the owner of the record to search for records of Baltimore County inmates, and view their arrest records through criminal records
• View arrest records for free by using case number to access criminal records through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Portal ( arrest records are part of criminal records)
• Visit local archives and libraries to view databases.

Requesters can also search online for information on Baltimore County arrest records. Some third-party online databases may provide basic information on Baltimore County arrest records at no cost.

Get Baltimore County Criminal Records

Baltimore County criminal records (rap sheets) are official documents that provide comprehensive details of crimes committed by individuals within Baltimore County, and their interactions with the county's trial system. Generally, criminal records cover the activities relating to criminal trials from the arrest through court proceedings, conviction, and incarceration of persons suspected to have committed a crime. To obtain Maryland's rap sheets:

• Visit the Maryland Courts website, locate the link to the Maryland Case Search Portal, and use the case number to seek records on Baltimore County criminal cases
• Log in to the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and use the Incarcerated Individuals Locator to view criminal records of Baltimore County Detention Center inmates, and individuals detained in state-run facilities within the county
• Visit the Baltimore County Court Clerk's Office and request access to criminal records.

Baltimore County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest and criminal records are tools used by law enforcement and the Judiciary to maintain order and provide security for the public. Baltimore County arrest, and criminal records can provide vital information for law enforcement to prevent crimes, or prosecute individuals who commit crimes. However, there are some distinctions between an arrest record and a criminal record. Key differences between an arrest record, and a criminal record are evident in their:

Definition

• Arrest records contain information relating to the arrest of individuals by law enforcement. An arrest may be for a crime, or the intention to commit a crime, but it does not confirm the guilt or innocence of the owner
• Baltimore County criminal records detail the history of criminal activities of their owners. Also, it gives comprehensive details of an owner's interaction with

Content

• Arrest records contain the personal information of the owner of the record and the timeline of the arrest
• Criminal records encompass arrest records information in addition to legal process information

Usage

• Arrest records are law enforcement documents, and they are used during the preliminary stages of trial cases
• Criminal records provide comprehensive information for background checks and legal decisions.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest may stay on a Baltimore County record indefinitely unless the court seals, or removes it. To expunge an arrest from a Baltimore County record, the owner of the record must be innocent of the charges that resulted from the arrest, or if guilty, they must be eligible for expungement under Maryland laws.

Expunge Baltimore County Arrest Records

To have a court expunge arrest information on Baltimore County, an individual must be eligible under Maryland laws. Per Maryland laws, the following types of arrest information are not expungeable:

• Violent crimes
• Sex offenses
• DUI and DWI converted under Maryland Transportation Codes 21-902(a), 21-902(a)(2), § 21-902(b), 21-902(c): and, § 21-902(d). However, there may be an exception if the defaulter receives Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) for a first-time DUI or DWI offense.

In Baltimore County (and the rest of Maryland), to seal or remove an arrest from a record after a conviction, a petitioner must:

• Innocent of the charges that led to the arrest
• Complete the sentence or probation that resulted from the arrest
• Not commit any offense other than traffic violations within three years from the final disposition of the offense
• Allow three years to elapse if the case is Stet or Nolle Prosequi (the court may waive the waiting period if the petitioner is eligible for it)

For persons seeking to expunge a Baltimore County arrest information, the following tips may be helpful:

• Gather relevant documents that may aid the expungement petition (this includes criminal records and court documents that relate to the case resulting from the arrest
• Visit the Maryland Courts website and download the relevant Petition For Expungement Form. There are several options depending on whether there is a conviction or not
• Fill out the expungement form, attach the supporting documents, and include a check/money order for $30.00 to cover the filing fee (the fee does not apply if there IS no conviction)
• File a petition at the clerk's office of the court that handled the case
• Serve a copy of the petition to the Baltimore County District Attorney's Office (the District Attorney's Office has the right to oppose the expungement)
• Attend court hearing on the petition (the court may schedule a hearing if the District Attorney's Office objects to the expungement)
• Wait for the court's decision
• If the court grants the petition, it will order relevant agencies to remove the information and update their records.

Baltimore County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are official court documents that authorize law enforcement to take a suspect into custody. In Baltimore County, a judge of a Baltimore County court may issue an arrest warrant if law enforcement provides evidence that a person committed or will commit a crime if left unchecked. Baltimore County arrest warrants comply with Maryland criminal laws. Typically, an arrest warrant information includes the

• Name, aliases, gender, last known address, and physical description of a suspect
• Name, and signature of the issuing judge/magistrate
• Name, and seal of the warrant's originating court
• Instructions to law enforcement on how to execute the arrest
• Charges against the individual named in the warrant.

Baltimore County Arrest Warrant Search

To search for Baltimore County active arrest warrants:

• Log in to the Baltimore County Sheriff's Office Baltimore County Active Child Support Warrant Search page to view warrants on child support defaulters
• Visit the Baltimore County Sheriff's Office at the Baltimore County courthouse, call (410) 887-3151, or send an email to the Sheriff's Office at sheriff@baltimorecountymd.gov
• Run a background check for Baltimore County active arrest warrants on the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Portal
• Make MPIA requests through the Baltimore County Police Department or any law enforcement agency in Baltimore County that may possess information on active arrest warrants
• Search for Baltimore County active arrest warrants online on local News websites
• Check local public notice boards for information on active arrest warrants.

Do Baltimore County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Generally, arrest warrants do not expire in the United States. Baltimore County arrest warrants will remain active until law enforcement takes the wanted individual into custody. However, Baltimore County arrest warrants will become inactive at the death of the fugitive or if the court recalls it.